Head and valve construction for internal-combustion engines



Nov. 17, 1925.

G. D. LA NHAM HEAD AND VALVE CONSTRUCTION FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Dec. '7, 1922 JNVENTOR B G/erml n/mm J I 44' I'M/111L111 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES GLENN n. LANHAM, or BA CITY, MIorrreAN.

HEAD AND VALVE CONSTRUCTION FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENG-ll lfifi Application filed December To all whom it'mag concern:

Be it known that I, GLENN D LANHAM, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Head and Valve Constructions for Internal- Combustion'Engines, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvements lll valve mechanisms for internal combustion engines and the like.

' One object of the invention is to provide a rotating valve structure which Wlll eliminate the numerous parts which make up the intake and exhaust valves, controlling the admission of fuel, and the discharge of exhaust gases in the conventional internal combustion engines at present in general use.

Another object is to design a rotary valve having passages therein which alternately register with the intake and exhaust passages.

A further object is a to design a water cooled valve and head which will not heat, the passages in which will however act as hot spots for vaporizing the inrushing gases.

A still further object is to design a simple and compact head and valve which will prevent the leakage of oil into the cylinders, which can be easily assembled and removed, and which can also be fitted to any type of internal combustion engine.

WVith the above and other objects in View, the present invention consists in the combi nation and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and. particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention,

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view of an internal combustion engine illustrating my improved head in place thereon.

Fig. 2 is a top planview thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged part sectional view of the valve proper.

Fig. I is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the head and valve, the section through the valve being taken on the line 4 4: of Fig. 3.

Fi 5 is a fragmentary View of the valve 7, 1922. Serial No. 305,493.

structure illustrating an elongated iuel open- E into a plurality of fins or ribs 6 formed thereon in spaced relation to prevent the leakage of oil, correspondinggrooves being formed in the head proper to accommodate the said ribs or fins and it will be obvious that the valve can be easily and uniformly lubricated. Cored passages 7 are formed in the valve as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, each passage being disposed in. angular relation so that as the valve is rotating, the walls of said passages will act as impellers to force the water or other liquid therethrough. 1

An exhaust pipe 8 is secured to the top of the head in the usual manner, and passages 9 are formed in the head so that when the valve is in position as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, communication will be established between the cylinder and the exhaust pipe through the passages 7, 9 and l0, continued rotation of the valve will close the exhaust passage and open the intake passage 11, to which the intake manifold 12 is connected, the passage 7 then registers with the passages l1 and 13 andestablishes communication with the cylinders for drawing fuel thereinto, the valve should turn about fifteen degrees after the exhaust closes to insure proper opening and the best results. In Fig. 5 I have shown a fragmentary View of the valve with a different shaped passage therein, and I wish it clearly understood that the opening into the passage 7 may be of any configuration desired, so that a short or prolonged part opening may be secured. This passage 7 also serves to vaporize the fuel being fed to the engine, as every other charge passing through the passage will be exhaust gases, consequently the passage will be hot and will thoroughly vaporize the incoming fuel.

One end of the valve proper isot a. smaller diameter, and this hub 14- is turned to receive a sprocket (not shown) which can be driven in any desired manner, but I prefer to use a silent chain connected to a sprocket on the crank shaft, the housing being formed as shown at 15 to accommodate the said sprocket and chain.

The head proper is cored as shown, and a pipe 16 establishes communication between the cored portion of the head and the interior of the valve proper, and outlet 17 being provided, and in practice is connected to the radiator in the usual manner.

A gasket lb of coarse provided to make a tight joint in the head and the exhaust and intake passages can be formed topresent the least resistance to the flow of the ga es, these are however structuralv details r: h will be adjusted in practice.

lfl'Olzl the it-oregoii'igdescription it will be obvious that I have perfected a very efficient, simple and practical head and valve structure which will eliminate all the usual in take and exhaust valves and other miscellaneous parts, which will be economical to build and easy to assemble and maintain.

Vvhat I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, a cored detachable head located above the cylinders and having intake and exhaust ports above the center thereof, a hollow cylindri cal rotary valye mounted therein, ribs on saidvalve and grooves in the head adapted to co-operate therewith, angular passages in the valve in spaced relation, said passages being termed to act as impellers to force water or other liquid, therethrough, each passage registering with the intake port in one position andregistering with the exhaust port in another position, and a connection between the interior of the head: and, the valve for iiorcing; a cooling; agent thereth roi ig'h.

2. in, a device of the class described, a cored detachablesplit cylinder head: located above the cylinders and having intake and exhaustpor-ts above the center thereof, a single hollow cylindrical! valve rotatably mounted therein, a hub formed; thereon, angular. passages formed in. the valve in spaced relation and. shaped to act as impeller to force water or liquid therethrough and adapted in one position. to establish communication bet veen the intake port and the cylinder, and in. another position to establish communication between the exhaust port and the cylinder, means for driving said valve, and. a connectionv between the heady and the valve to allow a. cooling agent to c l rculate therethrough.

In testimony whereof I: afiix my. signature.

GLENN D. LANHAM... 

